Doll construction



DOLL CONSTRUCTION Filed March 20, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOLL CONSTRUCTEON Jersey Application March 20, 1935, Serial No. 11,920

7 Claims.

This invention relates to doll construction and is particularly directed to a doll having movable eyes.

An object of this invention is to provide in doll construction of the character described, highly improved mechanism for resiliently pressing and retaining the dolls eyes of a rotating eye unit, in the sockets of the dolls head, the construction being such that the parts of the dolls head, the eye unit and said mechanism may be readily assembled without danger of said mechanism accidentally loosening, while nevertheless permitting the eye unit to be removed from the neck of the dolls head by properly manipulating said mechanism with a tool inserted into the head through the neck opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, an eye unit comprising an axle with a weight thereon, and having improved means for mounting the dolls eyes on the axle to permit frictional rotational adjustment of the eyes on the axle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and rugged device of the character described, which shall be easy to assemble, comprise relatively few and simple parts, be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, smooth and positive in operation, and withal practical and eflicient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of a dolls head provided with an eye unit and eye retaining mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 Of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 45 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the head shown in Fig. 1 with parts of the head removed to show the interior construction;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 66 of Fi 5;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of doll construction embodying the invention and illustrating an other form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, l designates a dolls head provided with a dolls eye unit if and mechanism l2 for retaining the unit in position within the head, embodying the invention. The head I9 comprises a front molded section [3 and a rear molded section I adapted to be attached together along the meeting edges 16. The front portion l3 of the head is provided with eye sockets I7 and with a central recess 18 disposed above the sockets H.

The rear edge 16 of the front portion I3 of the dolls head is formed with a pair of diametrically disposed notches 2!] receiving the ends of a horizontal, transverse rod 2!. A rail like member 22 has the front end thereof received within the recess 13 and may be of channel-shaped transverse cross-section, having a top wall 23 and parallel, downwardly extending side walls 24. Said side walls 24 are formed adjacent the rear end of the member 22 with aligned openings 25 receiving the rod 2! therethrough. The rod 2| may be upset, as at 26, on opposite sides of the member 22, for maintaining said member against side movement. The member 22 is thus held firmly within the head by the rod 2| and the recess 18 at the front of the dolls head and extends from front to rear.

The upper wall. 23 of rail 22 may be formed with a longitudinal slot 28, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Mounted on the rail 22 for sliding movement thereon is a member 30. The member has a somewhat rocking movement on the rail 22 and receives said rail therethrough.

In the drawing the member 30 is shown to comprise a member 3! having side walls 32 disposed on opposite sides of the side walls 24 and being interconnected by a web or wall 33 having a longitudinal slot 33a at the lower end thereof. The upper edge 34 of the wall 33 engages the bottom edges 24a of the side walls 24. The side walls 32 extend above the wall 33, forming arms 35 which are interconnected by a transverse pin 36 contacting the top surface of the wall 23. Riveted to the rear surface of the wall 33, as by rivet 38, is a strip spring 40 contacting the underside of the wall 23 and being received between the walls 24.

Extending through the slot 28 is a bolt 42 having a washer 43 thereon, pressing the end 44 of the spring which contacts the wall 23, against said wall. The spring 40 normally tends to rotate the member 38 in a counter-clockwise direction about the pin 36 to move the edge 34 of the wall 33 into contact with the bottom edges 24a of side walls 24. Attached to the front surface of the wall 33, as for example, by a rivet 39, or by any other fastening means, is a spring 46 having a downwardly extending arm provided with a central longitudinal slot 4'! forming a pair of bifurcated ends The slot 41 is aligned with the slot 33a, for the purpose presently to appear.

The eye unit l comprises an axle or rod 50 of round cross section, to the central portion of which is attached a rod 5| having a weight 52 at the lower end thereof. The rod 5| may have a bent portion 54 bent around the axle 58 and soldered or welded thereto. Mounted on each end of the rod 58 are a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed square eyelets or sleeve members 51 having flanges 58 at the outer ends thereof. The eyelets 51 frictionally engage the round rod 58. Mounted on each pair of eyelets 5'! is a hollow, substantially semi-spherical dolls eye 88 having a diametrically disposed square opening 6| receiving the square eyelets 51 therethrough and contacting the flanges 5B. The rod 58 may be upset, as at 62, on opposite sides of the flanges 58 to retain each pair of eyelets against outward sliding movement on said rod. Inward sliding movement of the eyelets on the rod is prevented by contact of the flanges 58 with the dolls eyes 60.

It will now be understood that the eyes may be rotated upon the rod to any desired angular position, the eyelets 51 rotating with the eyes and frictionally retaining the eyes in any position to which the same are moved. The eyes 68 are received within the sockets H and the bifurcated spring arms 48 disposed on opposite sides of the portion 54 of the rod 5| yieldingly engage the axle on opposite sides of said portion 54 for pressing the eyes 60 within the sockets.

The springs 40 and 46 are first attached by the rivet 39 to the Wall 33 of the member 3|. The rail 22 is then passed through the opening of the member 3| so as to be disposed between the pin 36 and the edge 34. The bolt 42 and washer 43 are then applied with the nut somewhat loose to permit the member 3| to be moved with respect to the rail member. The rod 2| is then passed through the openings 25 and the upset portions 26 formed to prevent sliding movement of the rod with respect to the member 22. Preferably, the member 3| is disposed adjacent the rear end of the rail. The rod 2|, rail member 22 and the member 30 are then placed within the portion I3 of the dolls head by inserting the front end ofthe rail member into the recess 58 and the outer ends of the rod into the notches 28. The rear portion I5 is thereafter applied to the front portion l3 and cemented thereto whereby the rod and rail are fixed against movement.

The eye unit H is thereafter inserted through the neck of the dolls head and placed in such position that the eyes 60 are received within the sockets of the dolls head. Thereafter an elongated tool 10 is inserted through the neck of the dolls head, said tool having a handle H at the bottom end and an off set portion 73 at the upper end. The portion 13 is placed against the underside of the rail and in back of the member 30 and the handle then pushed forwardly towards the eyes. It will be noted that the spring 48 tends to rock the member 30 in a counter-clockwise direction about the pin 36 (looking at Fig. l of the drawing). The pin 36 and the edge 34 are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the height of the rail member so that when the portion 13 of the handle pushes against the member 30 just below the rail said member is caused to rock about the pin 36 whereby the edge 34 moves away from the bottom edges 24a of the rail member and permits the member 36 to be slidably moved forwardly until the spring portions 48 contact the axle or bridge 58. The tool l9 may then be removed from the dolls head whereupon spring 48 again rocks the member 30 in a counter-clockwise direction until the edge 34 again engages the edges 24a for holding said member in position on the rail.

It will be noted that should the eyes be poked or the doll shaken to cause rearward pressure on the bottom end of the member 38, said member will not move rearwardly on the rail as the edge 34 grips or contacts the edge 24a of the rail. The side walls 32 of the member 3| act as stops to limit rearward movement of the bridge or axle 50. As the eyes are poked rearwardly, when the axle contacts the edges of the side walls 32 portions of the dolls eyes are still within the sockets and the eye unit is thus prevented from falling out of position. When pressure is released from the dolls eyes, the spring 46 will again push the eyes into normal position within the sockets. Should it be desired to remove the dolls eye unit H, the tool l0 may be inserted within the neck opening of the dolls head and the portion .13 thereof engaged with the forward side of the upper ends of the arms 35, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The tool may then be pressed rearwardly to cause the member 3| to rock about the edge 34, thus moving the pin 36 away from the top wall of the rail and permitting said member to move rearwardly on the rail to release the eye unit When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, a screw driver may be inserted through the neck of the dolls head for tightening the bolt 42. With our improved construction it has been found that after the device is assembled shaking will not loosen the member 30. The head may thus be quickly and readily and easily assembled and the parts are nevertheless maintained in desired position without danger of accidental loosening when the doll is in use.

In Figs. '7 and 8 there is shown another form of our invention. In said figures rail 88 is in the form of a fiat elongated bar receiving through an opening in the rear end thereof the rod' 2|, and having a front end thereof received within the recess N3 of the dolls head. Mounted on the rail is an eye retaining mechanism 8| comprising a rocking member 82 formed of a flat elongated strip of metal bent into suitable shape. The member 82 comprises a straight portion 83 formed with a longitudinal slot 84 receiving the bar 80 therethrough and being of somewhat greater length than the width of said bar. Extending from the portion 83 is a downwardly inclined portion 85 having a substantially vertical end portion 86. The portion 86 is formed with a slot or opening 87, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Extending from the upper end of the portion 83 is a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 89 having a still more inclined end portion 90 formed with a slot 9| receiving the upper edge of the bar 89. Riveted to the portion 85 of the member 82 is a strip spring 93 having an upwardly extending portion 94 formed with a slot 95 receiving the bar 80 therethrough. Extending from the upper end of the portion 94 is a III bent over downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 96 contacting the upper edge of the bar or rail 83. It will be noted that the spring 93 lies substantially between the portions 83 and 89 of the member 82. The spring 93 normally tends to rock the member 82 in a counter-clockwise direction about the upper end 91 of the slot 84 whereby the lower end 98 of said slot is maintained in engagement with the bottom edge of said bar.

Removably mounted on the lower end of the member 82 is a spring I09. Said spring has an upwardly extending portion Nil from the bottom end of which there extends an upwardly bent portion I02, the lower end 86 of the member 82 being received between the portions llll and I02 of the spring lilii. The upper end of the portion I02 is bent downwardly, as at I04, said portion being received within the opening 8'! of the member 82 for holding the spring I00 on said member. Extending from the upper end of the portion IQ! of the spring N10 is a downwardly and somewhat forwardly inclined portion I Ill.

The eye unit Ha comprises an axle 50a on which are mounted square eyelets 51 supporting dolls eyes 50, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Attached to the axle 59a, and extending at right angles thereto, is a rod 5Ia supporting a weight at the lower end thereof. The rod am has the upper end thereof soldered or welded to the middle of the axle and extends forwardly of the axle whereby the spring end Hl'l may contact the central rear part of the axle for pressing the eyes 60 into the sockets.

The method of assembling the structure shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is somewhat similar to the method of assembling the structure shown in Fig. 1. The spring 93 is first attached to the member 82 and said member placed on the bar or rail 82 with said bar extending through slots 84 and 95. The spring I00 may be snapped onto the bottom end of the member 82. The rod 2| is then passed through the opening at the rear end of said bar and upset on opposite sides of the bar. Said bar and rod are then assembled with the front part of the head, with the member 82 disposed adjacent the rod 2! The rear part of the head may then be assembled with the front part of the head and the tool Hi inserted through the neck opening of the head, with the portion 13 engaging the member 82 just below the rail 89. The tool may then be pushed forwardly to cause the member 82 to rock in a clockwise direction about the upper end 9? of the slot so that the bottom end 98 of the slot moves away from the bottom edge of the rail to permit movement of the member Bl forwardly until the spring end lii'l contacts the axle Bila for resiliently pressing the eyes 60 into the sockets. Thereafter the member 8! cannot move rearwardly on the rail unless the tool 10 is inserted into the dolls head and the portion 13 thereof engaged with the upper end of the member 82 above the rail 80 and said tool pressed rearwardly, such manipulation permitting a rearward movement of the member 8| to allow removal of the eye unit I la.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted. as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In doll construction, a dolls head having a pair of eye sockets, a rail member fixed Within said head and extending from front to rear, a member mounted on the rail member and having portions adapted to contact the top and bottom of said rail member and being adapted to have a slight rocking movement on said rail nember, resilient means on said member and engaging said rail member for retaining said portions in engagement with said top and bottom of said rail member, a dolls eye unit comprising an axle with dolls eyes on said axle received within said sockets, and means on said rocking member for retaining said eyes within said sockets.

2. In doll construction, a dolls head having eye sockets, a rail member fixed within the head and extending from front to rear, and a member receiving said rail member and having a slight rocking movement thereabout, and movable along said rail member, a dolls eye unit within said head comprising an axle having eyes thereon received within said sockets, and a spring on said rocking member engaging said axle for yieldingly retaining said eyes within said sockets.

3. In doll construction, a dolls head having eye sockets, a rail member fixed within said head and extending from front to rear, a member having an opening receiving said rail member therethrougb. and portions on opposite sides of said openin' adapted to contact the top and bottom of said rail member, the distance between said portions being somewhat greater than the height of said rail member, whereby said member may have a slight rocking movement on said rail member, a dolls eye unit within said head, and means on said rocking member for maintaining the eyes of said eye unit within the sockets of said head.

4. In doll construction, a dolls head having eye sockets, a rail member fixed within said head and extending from front to rear, a memher having an opening receiving said rail member therethrough and portions on opposite sides of said opening adapted to contact the top and bottom of said rail member, the distance between said portions being somewhat greater than the height of said rail member, whe eby said member may have a slight rocking movement on said rail member, a dolls eye unit within said head, means on said rocking member for maintaining the eyes of said eye unit within the sock ets of said head, and a spring attached to said rocking member and engaging said rail member.

5. In doll construction, a dolls head having eye sockets, a rail member having a top wall and downwardly extending flanges, means for fixing said rail member within said head so that the same extends from front to rear, a rocking member received on said rail member and having a portion contacting the top wall and a portion contacting the bottom edges of said flanges, a spring fixed to said rocking member and engaging said rail member, an eye unit Within the head having eyes received within said sockets, and a spring attached to said rocking member for yieldingly pressing the eyes into the sockets.

6. In doll construction, a dolls head having eye sockets, a flat bar disposed in a vertical plane fixed within the head and extending from front to rear, a member made of a strip of metal having a slot receiving said bar therethrough, a

spring attached to said member and having a slot receiving said bar therethrough, the upper end of said spring being bent over and contact ing the upper edge of said bar, the distance from one end of the slot in said member to the other end being greater than the Width of said bar, dolls eyes received within said sockets and means on said member for yieldingly pressing said eyes into said sockets.

'7. In doll construction, a dolls head having eye sockets, a fiat bar disposed in a vertical plane fixed within the head and extending from front to rear, a member made of a strip of metal having a slot receiving said bar therethrough, a spring attached to said member and having a slot receiving said bar therethrough, the upper end of said spring being bent over and contacting the upper edge of said bar, the distance from one end of the slot in said member to the other end being greater than the width of said bar, dolls eyes received within said sockets and means on said member for yieldingly pressing said eyes into said sockets, said means comprising a spring re- 10 movably mounted on said member.

MATTE'O DE CESARE. DAVID (JOHN. 

